Rolling toy



Dec. 3, 1929. W. 0. FARNUM 1,737,651

ROLLING TOY Filed March 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 3, 1929. w, c. FARNUQ 1,737,651

ROLLING TOY Filed March 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F ms Patented Dec. 3, 1929 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM C. FARNUM, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS ROLLING TOY Application filed March 3,

be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved toy;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 4:4: in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of the handle connection;

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation of the handle; 0 7 is a side elevation of a modified construction Fig. 8 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a detail View of a further modification.

Referring particularly to Figs. to 6, my improved rolling toy comprises a palr of dlscs or wheels 10 fixed in spaced relation by cross rods 11 (Fig. 1), which in side elevation appear as chords of the discs but in front elevation are seen to be disposed oblique to the axis of the discs. Blocks or balls 12 of wood or other suitable material are mounted on the rods 11 and are freely slidable thereon.

As the toy is rolled along, the blocks 12 continually slide back and forth on the rods 11 as the opposite ends of the rods are alternately raised and lowered by the rolling motion of the toy. As the blocks slide back and 1928. Serial No. 258,987.

forth, they strike sharply against the inner faces of the discs 10, producing sounds which are interesting and attractive to a small child. The blocks or balls 12 are preferably brightly colored to make them still more attractive to small children.

A handle 15 is mounted in a handle con nector 16 which is of a general U-shape and is provided with end portions 17 having inwardly offset terminals 18 received in axial openings in the discs 10. At its middle portion the handle connector 16 is bent, as indicated in Fig. 5, to provide substantially parallel yielding handle engaging portions 22 and an end portion or stop 23.

The handle 15 is provided with grooves 25 on opposite sides thereof, which grooves receive the parallel portions 22 ofthe connector 16 when the handle is forced into the connector. Such insertion of the handle spreads the portions 22 sufficiently so that they firmly grip the handle and prevent accidental displacement thereof.

I have thus provided a handle and connector which may be readily assembled or separated without the use of any tools and which cause the handle to be held firmly and in such a manner that it is not easily broken.

It will be understood that the discs 10 turn freely on the terminal portions of the connector 16. A toy thus constructed may be easily manufactured at a small expense and is found unusually attractive to the small children for whose entertainment it is designed.

In Figs. 7 to 9, I have shown a modified construction in which discs 30, cross rods 31 and blocks 32 are provided as in the form previously described. A handle connector 34 is provided with end portions 35 and inwardly projecting terminal portions 36, also as previously described, but the middle portion of theconnector '34 is bent upward to form a loop 37 secured to the back of a block 38 by a screw 39 and washer 4L0.

The handle 11 is inserted in a hole in the back side of the block38, the handle being preferably slabbed ofi to fit closely between the sides of the loop 37 It will be noted that the washer 40 has offset edge portions forming flanges to prevent spreading of the loop 37.

The block 38 may be in any desired form and is shown herein as constituting the head and body of an animated figure which is provided with legs 44 and arms 45 each pivoted to the block 88. Each leg 44 is connected to the corresponding arm 45 by a link 46 (Fig. 9). The lower ends of the'legs 44 extends into the path of the rods 31 and blocks 32 and are struck thereby as the discs 30 rotate, hus causing an irregular swinging movement of the legs 44 and an irregular up and down movement of the arms 45.

It will be understood that the construction and appearance of the animated figure may be substantially changed within the scope of my invention. lWIany of the advantages of my invention could be enjoyed in a toy having a single wheel or disc only.

In Figs. 8 and 10, I have shown a resonant disc 50 to bemounted on one or both of the discs 10 and held in spaced relation therefrom. Light springs 51 are provided on the cross rods 11, which are compressible to permit the blocks 12 to successively strike the disc, but which thereafter expand and push the blocks away from the disc, so that the sound will not be deadenec. The same construction may be added to the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7..

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is i 1; A rolling toy comprising a pair of discs, a plurality of cross rods holding said discs in definite spaced relation and mounted oblique to the axis thereof, and blocks freely slidable on said rods. and alternately engaging the inner faces of said discs.

2. A rolling toy comprising a pair of discs, a plurality of cross rods holding said discs in definite spaced relation, said rods being mounted oblique to the axis of said discs but secured to both discs at points substantially equally distant from the axis of said discs, and blocks freely slidable on said rods and alternately engagingthe inner faces ofsaid discs. I

3. A rolling toy comprising a pair of discs, a plurality of cross rods holdingsaiddiscs in definite spaced relation and mounted oblique to the axis thereof, blocks freely slidable on said rods and alternatelyengaging the inner faces of said discs, and handle means to roll said toy along a supporting surface.

4. A rolling toy. comprising a pair of discs, a plurality of cross rods holding said discs in definite spaced relation, said rods being mounted oblique to the axis of said discs, blocks freely slidable on said rods. and alternately engaging the inner faces ofsaid discs, and a figure mounted on saidtoy and having movable members engaged by said rods and blocks as the toy rolls.

5. A rolling toy comprising a pair of spaced discs, a plurality of cross rods holding said discs in definite spaced relation, said rods being mounted oblique to the axis of said discs, blocks freely slidable on said rods and alternately engaging the inner faces of said discs, and a figure mounted on said toy and having movable members engaged by said rods and blocks and having additional movable portions link-conneeted to said movable members.

6 A rolling toyrcornprising a rotating disc, supporting rods mounted in fixed relation thereto and disposed oblique to the surface thereof, and blocks slidable ons'aid rodsand movable by rotation of said disc towards and away from said disc. i

7. A rolling toy comprisinga rotating disc, supporting rods mounted in fixed relation thereto and disposed oblique to the surface thereof, blocks slidable on'said rods and movable by rotation of said disc towards and away from said disc, and a .resonant member mounted at the inner side of saiddisc and enif g d y said blocks as they approach said also.

8. A rolling toy comprising a rotating disc,

supporting rods mountedin fixed relation thereto and disposed oblique to the surface thereof, blocks slidable on saidrods and movable by rotation of said .disc towards and away from said "disc, a resonant .member mounted at the inner side of said disc and engaged by said blocks as they approach said disc, and resilient means to movesaid blocks away from said disc after engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WVILLIAM C. FARNUM. 

